Private and Public support strengthen Brasil Ride’s sixth edition

The biggest MTB ultramarathon in America is scheduled for October 17th to 25th in Chapada Diamantina, Bahia

São Paulo (SP), Brazil - Held for the sixth consecutive year in Chapada Diamantina, between the cities of Mucugê and Rio das Contas, Brasil Ride will make the elite MTB enthusiasts to the center-south area of Bahia, between October 17th and 25th. More than 2,500 athletes from 39 nationalities have already competed in this event and more than 2,000 people are involved in this competition, including athletes, support teams, engineers, production staff, workers and suppliers. For 2015, the biggest achievement for the organizers is the support of both public and private partners.

To be able to bring the event to life, Brasil Ride has the fundamental support of Bahia‘s Government and the national Ministry of Sports. Organizers are also counting on important business partnerships directly linked to sports, such as Shimano, Trek, and Caixa - on of Brazil's most prolific sponsor for Olympic sports.

"The partnership between Brasil Ride and the government of Bahia is getting stronger every year. The state has one of the largest mountain biking events of the world and the local economy is profiting fromt this. The legacy that this partnership brings is the transformation of Chapada Diamantina for the better", says Mario Roma, who created Brasil Ride.

Changing the UCI class of the event from S2 to S1 improved the importance of the event from 2014 to 2015. This year's edition will award 120 points in the UCI World and Olympic rankings. "The competition is of great importance for Brazilian sport. Local athletes are improving when they have a chance to race wth outstanding international athletes. But there is also a cultural exchange that is important," Roma adds.

"The Sponsors that make Brasil Ride such a successful event have one common desire: to make this event not only the greatest, but also one of the world's largest MTB competition in Brazil. During those five years, partnerships were formed and successful cases were presented. Shimano, our sponsor since the first year, is a great example. Brasil Ride is the birthplace of the 'Shimano Blue Angels', which has become a world reference in support to cycling events, " recalls Roma.

Economic impact and Media return - Brasil Ride raised, in its fifth edition in 2014, R $ 55 million of media results, boosting mountain biking and cycling in Brazil to new levels. The competition was also voted the best MTB race in the country for three consecutive years and is considered one of the three largest in the world in its segment.

"The event changed the local area through sustainability projetcs, changed the way children are seeing the sport, turned young adults into athletes and made entrepreneurs learn how to manage conflicts and overcome challenges. Events with Brasil Ride’s brand are a synonym for quality, excellence in service and bringing the best out of everyone. The slogan 'More than a race, a stage in your life', exemplifies this perfectly," concludes Mario Roma.

Always raced in duos, Brasil Ride will once again feature seven categories: Open, Women, Mixed, Master (no athlete under 40 years can participate), Grand Masters (no athlete under 50 years is allowed in this category), Nellore (the athlete needs to weight more than 90 kg) and Corporate (three members category). In addition, we will also offer the special cycling Jersey for the American Continent's best teams of both, men and women.

So far, 18 countries will be represented in the 2015 race: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Uruguay and USA.

Attention: During the event, text, photos and videos will be available to all media daily. For media enquiries and image requests, please contact redacao@zdl.com.br or +55.11.98783 7408.

Brasil Ride 2015 Stages

1st stage: October 18 - 13h
20 km prologue with start and finish line in Mucugê

2nd stage: October 19 - 6h
147 km between Mucugê and Rio de Contas

3rd stage: October 20 - 10h
34,5 km in Rio de Contas

4th stage: October 21 - 8h
84,7 km in Rio de Contas

5th stage: October 22 - 7h
94,7 km in Rio de Contas

6th stage: October 23 - 6h
143,4 km between Rio de Contas and Mucugê

7th stage: October 24 - 9h
72,1 km in Mucugê

Brasil Ride 2015 its a realization of SUDESB, Bahiatursa, Governo da Bahia and Ministério do Esporte
Sponsorship: Shimano, Trek and Caixa
Co-Sponsorship: Thule, Pearl Izumi and Oakley.
Support: Continental Pneus, Red Bull, GU, Muc-Off and Prefeitura de Rio de Contas
Supervision: UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), CBC (Confederação Brasileira de Ciclismo) and FBC (Federação Baiana de Ciclismo)
Organization: REC, Roma Comunicação and Prefeitura de Mucugê.

Website: http://www.BRASILRIDE.COM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BRASILRIDE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brasil_ride
Instagram: https://instagram.com/brasilride

Gustavo Coelho / Doro Jr. - Mtb 13209
E-mail: gustavo@zdl.com.br / dorojr@zdl.com.br
Phone: +55 11 32855911 / Cel lphone: + 55 11 9.9178-4055

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